The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-06-02
The snring Electlo. g.

The Spring ELECTORS.
The net result of the county elections |
held on Thursday last, was return to Of
fee Of The incumbents. Not only was this
the case III Augusta, but in large major ,
lily of the counties Of the State. Where
Democrats held the county Offices, as
general thing, a new lease was given, and
therue held good where Republicans were
in. II requires an intense degree OF par
ty feeling to array the voters on political
lines, when the prizes at stake ought to be
non-political With the county and dis
trict officials nearly every voter IS thrown
in more or less intimate contact II that
intercourse is pleasant, and the Official
to the average observation, is efficient i'll
the discharge Of his duty, courteous and
accommodating, it requires more than Or
binary proyocation to get up an opposition
that will make men subordinate personal
favor, perhaps obligation, to political pref
erence. There is an innate conservatism
among the masses that establishes the in
cumbent S claim to position, unless there
be notorious cause for removal. Even in
the latter case, such is the force of habit,
that many are disposed to give one more
chance, rather than make the change. 1t
| is difficult to measure the strength OF the
| vantage ground of possession. A hundred
| different Influences, trifling in detail, bnt
|, important in aggregate, operate to Il com
mon end. The remembrance of little IA
| vors tae habit Of associating the man
with the place; the recollection of assis-
tanee rendered in a spirit of accommoda-
tinn, or the stronger tie of direct obliga,
ton, are so many forces at work in behalf
of the man, who efficiently fills an office.
lThey counterbalance or outweigh political
bias with the average citizen, and when
the day of election comes constitute an
important factor in determining the re-
suit. .s..,.a,r. ... 3f,i.,, gi-..,.ts s.sf ,fs..
| OF course there are exceptions to the
rule. In Rockingham, for instance, the
Republican Clerk of the Circuit Court, q
faithful and excellent official, was deposed
ulder party pressure, a Democrat beng
substituted, In Albemarle. and in Bote-
tourt. also, like results were reached, eX-
cept that Republican in the one case and
an Independent in the other succeeded a
DEMOCRAT On the other hand all of the
county officers, practically, in Augusta, in
| Allegheny, in Bath, Rockbridge.f High
land, Nelson, AppomattoX, Buckingham,
Cumberland. and number of others, were
re elected. In some. Rockbridge for in
stance, Democrats were returned, where
on strict party grounds the offices belonged
TO TIE. Republicans, whilst in Nelson a
Republican clerk was elected by a large
majority in a Democratic county. IL.
| With rare exceptions there was little
room for partzan exultation in the out
come of Thursday work in Virginia. II
was impossible to draw the party lines, and
except in neighborhoods 10 get out ths
vote. General apathy, if not Indifference
characterized the preliminary canvass IL
most sections. and the interest mani
tested was chiefly personal. No princl
pie WAS at. stake; no general policy IN
yoyed. The only concern of the conser
J. yatiYe voter was that good local officers
should he secured, and in the selection
party utilization was often sacrificed to per
, sonal consideration. The Independent
exercised his right to scratch with ''per
nicous activity and succeeded as usna
in piling up work for the election Judges
, without making a practical impression OF
) the general result. 12- l.19" 1' -fsota q
i The influences We haYe named wer'
not the only ones at work. in some IN
stances there was defective management
. Mistakes and serious mistakes were made
, But upon these it is useless to dwell .Th'
taunt of II told You &c., meyer yet heales
r ahreaeh CT contributed to future harmon!
and success Political part les as well ii
, individuals are taught valuable lessons a
: times, by bitter experience. The wises
, mas err, but wisdom will not throw ava.
/ the kernel that has cost SO dearly. The er
j. rQr can be made to yield the seed OF futur
a triumph 3a sqa.,3st sgl. ftfdg ss.
/ / %. "a. D.
But party management Was not TO blami
: | for all of the resalts.- There WAS in sons
sections foul INSCRIPTIONS use OF none.
0 and whiskey; of Islander and falsehood.7-
4 Despicable methods were, Tesorted to, ant
/. not always without avail. Why the mora
,, people Of every party &c net revolt agains
: the use of such means in elections, is diff
,3IGeult to determine. They profess to de
iplore it. talk about it. and openly denounc'
4 it, ana yet WALK to the polls aud practical
? ly endorse it by supporting its beneficial
ries. Until pnrer methods are intioducef
aAd more independence manifested, There
will not be that improvement in the law!
q and lflialency III administration Which iht
interests OF the Commonwealth 50 Soreli
I demand. LIh .r.4- ,.i..,.s5., +, .s.IJ f.
81 There is nothing to discourage the Re
: publcans AS a party in, the result OF Thurs
days vote. If there is an honest, earnes
!, purpose manifested to Jet bygQnes be by
cones and determination TO take advan
tage of any errors that are seen now, tn
b experience will PROVE worth many time
!. its cost and yield 4 harvest 81 SUCCESS. .,r.,
), The Commercial gazette offers some sen
i slble ADVICE to the Ohio Republicans. !
u demands that there be no squabble or IN
seenily contention between Sherman an(
, Blaine in reference to the Presidential
, nomination. 1t assumes thai if l. lainl
u wants the nomination he can get it by ac
4 clamation, and Il he cannot get it in that
z way he ought not TO ask it at all. Sherman
! it says, will not go into any scramble fo
Z the position. If it comes 10 him at all, j
i must come of the free ohGae of the Con
+ yention. If Ohio should not stand solid
for him he would not want it nor woul(
he allow his name TO be presented. That
is certainly the right spirit as to both Of
! these distinguished Republicans, and will
4 such a feeling prevailing in the CQnven
: ton and controlling the party, the nomi
I nation Of either of them would be followed
byan election. There are others who would
be equally as strong before the voters, al
though not now SO prominent. But thf
? more Important point is to preserve har-
I, e